Concern about the safety of municipal water supplies in light of the recent terrorist activities in the U.S. has raised questions about the continued integrity of hydraulic structures such as dams, as well as contamination of public water supplies. The EPA and other experts assure us that introduction of contaminants into a water system would be largely unsuccessful due to the enormous amount of contaminant needed to impact a large, moving body of water. Virtually any contaminant would be rendered too diluted to have an impact. Additionally, dams have emergency action plans in case of breech, power outage, suspicious activity or any other incident that threatens the stability or workings of the structure.

Environmental Health Writer, a publication of Environmental Safety Council, a division of the National Safety Council. publication, dated October 2001, gives numerous references to safety measures municipal and commercial entities can take to protect themselves from terrorist attack. Reasoning behind removing dam inventory information from the internet is provided.

Find news from the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This is the committee responsible for the new Critical Infrastructure Act of 2001. Selecting the "hearings" link allows you to view facts, including transcription of hearings held by the Energy Subcommittee.

The Critical Infrastructure Act of 2001 emphasizes the need for national communication on an ongoing basis for all kinds of security issues, including safety of dams and public water supplies. (See Sec. 1016 - approximately page 130)

American Water Works Association has a webpage that gives drinking water safety information, including the likelihood of terrorist attacks, contamination, and preparedness procedures.

Environmental Health Writer, a publication of Environmental Safety Council, a division of the National Safety Council. publication, dated October 2001, gives numerous references to safety measures municipal and commercial entities can take to protect themselves from terrorist attack.

The FBI´s Critical Infrastructure Protection Center gathers and disperses information about threats to all kinds of "critical infrastructure". See a Congressional hearing transcription from October 10, 2001, at which Deputy Assistant Director of the Counter Terrorism Division Ronald Dick outlines the risk to water resources and environment.

Press Releases

FEMA has a Terrorism Fact Sheet posted on their website that gives good information to know before an incident occurs.

The EPA has taken actions to safeguard our public water supply. Read the EPA's press release.

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announces formation of a federal-state-local taskforce designed to protect drinking water from terrorists. ( Read the press release), but says the likelihood of contamination is remote.)

American Water Works Association update on water security steps taken by water suppliers around the nation.